Tag Archives: day dress

A LOVELY SUMMER FROCK FROM THE 1950’S, REMODELED A BIT BY MOI

A LOVELY SUMMER FROCK FROM THE 1950'S, REMODELED A BIT BY MOI

This beautiful polished cotton frock – Kay Whitney by Huntington – is absolutely gorgeous. The fabric and the tailoring are top notch.

Naturally, it’s got a fabric-covered belt, the full skirt and a generous hem allowance. It’s not a one-off design, I found, when I saw another identical to it on eBay – but it’s wonderful anyway.

However, this one is one-off now!  As beautiful as it was in its original design, it was a bit too conservative a style to be flattering on me. The shoulder straps were wider and it had a fabric tie sewn completely around the neckline which you would tie in a bow in front. Pretty, but not me.

I removed the tie, making the shoulders skinnier and the neckline wider. I used some of the leftover tie material to make little flat bows at the shoulders. Of course, if you are a purist, you would never have changed it. That’s something I rarely do, but I liked it so much and wanted it to suit me.

So, I now have an original – and without sacrificing quality or elegance. The best of both worlds.

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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TRUE VINTAGE LATE 1940’S SWINGY RAYON DRESS

TRUE VINTAGE LATE 1940'S SWINGY RAYON DRESS.

TRUE VINTAGE LATE 1940’S SWINGY RAYON DRESS

TRUE VINTAGE LATE 1940'S SWINGY RAYON DRESS

This is a very cool dress from the ’40’s in the characteristic rayon of that era. The skirt is not a full circle, but it swings.

It’s got a side metal zipper – not big enough for Madge’s shoulders. As with many of the dresses for a time period of about 20 years, you really have to wiggle your way into it over your head.

The top is rayon, too, but of an entirely different
texture. The sleeves are skinny and are ruched on both sides at the wrist. An interesting feature.

No label remains, but I’d say that this dress was commercially made. Mid-calf length and slim fit, it makes a nice silhouette with lots of movement. Love it!

Morgana Martin, the Magicvintagespy
Blog: Magicvintagespy.com
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Book: How to Find the Best in Vintage Fashion available on Amazon.com

TRUE VINTAGE SUIT OR 2 PC. DRESS FROM THE ’40’S – ’50’S

TRUE VINTAGE SUIT OR 2 PC. DRESS FROM THE '40'S - '50'S

What a cute little 3-season outfit with a fantastic hourglass shape. I always love these!

It’s a late ’40’s to early ’50’s style, with little shoulder pads and beautiful tailoring. Although it is unlined and not haute couture, it’s very nicely done and has those wonderful design details that even continue on the back of the jacket.

The ever-popular pencil skirt goes with almost anything. This could be worn as a dress, as separate pieces or as a suit. I see it with a little white blouse or shell underneath, jacket open.

At a time when women were finding their fashion feet again and, actually, going wild with style! Clothing from this era is beautiful and fun to find. Notice that the tags are still on this one – I love surprise discoveries like this. Keep sleuthing because, you just never know . . . . . . . . . . .
ALSO, I’LL BE TRAVELING FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS SO THE POSTS MAY BE A LITTLE BIT WONKY BUT, NO WORRIES, THE INVESTIGATION GOES ON AND I WILL REPORT REGULARLY.
Morgana Martin, the Magicvintagespy
Blog: Magicvintagespy.com
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Book: How to Find the Best in Vintage Fashion available on Amazon.com

TRUE VINTAGE 1950’S HOME-SEWN SHIRT WAIST DAY DRESS

TRUE VINTAGE 1950'S HOME-SEWN SHIRT WAIST DAY DRESS.

TRUE VINTAGE 1950’S HOME-SEWN SHIRT WAIST DAY DRESS

TRUE VINTAGE 1950'S HOME-SEWN SHIRT WAIST DAY DRESS

I show a lot of this style, because it was SO popular from the mid-forties until the early ’60’s. This example is quintessential in all its qualities.

I’m sure this was home-sewn because when I found it I found 3 others obviously made for the same woman. Yes, she may have had a tailor.

Lovely cotton which can’t be found anymore – certainly not in fabric stores. It’s hard to describe if you don’t know it. Looks wonderful, feels wonderful and gets better with age.

Also, the buttons she used are just great! They’re big, plastic and colorful. Some were sculpted in their shape. The sewing is impeccably done and fabric-covered belts always look so crisp and stylish. Naturally, there’s a generous hem (whatever happened to those?).

All four of these dresses were of exactly the same style, each one in a beautiful cotton print. Though I’m sure they were well-used, they hardly looked worn – a testament to the quality of vintage materials and workmanship, as well as the care of the owner.

Each one opens the book on a mystery, just as illusive as they can be . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . … . . . . . .

Morgana Martin, the Magicvintagespy
Blog: Magicvintagespy.com
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Book: How to Find the Best in Vintage Fashion available on Amazon.com

LOVELY COTTON SHIRT-WAIST FROM THE 1950’S – EARLY 1960’S IN FALL COLORS

LOVELY COTTON SHIRT-WAIST FROM THE 1950'S – EARLY 1960'S IN FALL COLORS.

TRUE VINTAGE MID-FIFTIES DAY DRESS BY THE KORET COMPANY

TRUE VINTAGE MID-FIFTIES DAY DRESS BY THE KORET COMPANY

The Koret company made women’s clothing starting in the 1930’s or 1940’s and had several off-shoots over the years. This lovely day-dress is a plus size, believe it or not, by a division called Korelle. It would now fit what we would call a medium size.

It’s made of a heavy, slinky nylon, polyester or blend and look at those colors! I have another one very much like it.

There’s a metal zipper at the waist on the left, and the fabric-covered belt. The buttons have huge blue rhinestones in them.

I just love the colors. This type of material takes color so well and drapes so nicely. The style is always flattering.

Koret made some very nice things over the years and they are still in business, apparently, though I can’t say that what they produce now is particularly distinguished. Only the true vintage examples that have been in hiding are worth searching for . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

BOOK:  HOW TO FIND THE BEST IN VINTAGE FASHION – AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM

LOVELY TRUE VINTAGE 1940’S/1950’S POLISHED COTTON FROCK

LOVELY TRUE VINTAGE 1940'S/1950'S POLISHED COTTON FROCK.

LOVELY TRUE VINTAGE 1940’S/1950’S POLISHED COTTON FROCK

LOVELY TRUE VINTAGE 1940'S/1950'S POLISHED COTTON FROCK

I’m not sure where this would have been worn in the late 1940’s or early ’50’s. Probably to a party, dance or some dressy but non-formal event.

It’s beautiful in it’s cut and drape. The back has a low dip (not to the waist). There’s a bit of Grecian feel to it with the folds around the bodice. Just another of those lovely frocks that women loved then.

The fabric is relatively heavy – a polished cotton in medium aquamarine blue. Maybe it’s cornflower blue. The welts across the skirt add to the quintessentially beautiful tailoring we almost always see from that time.

The skirt is almost a full circle, so it’s just made for dancing. There’s no crinoline – so it is from before “that” time, though you could easily put one under, and maybe someone did . … . .. you just never know . . . . . . . . . . .

Mortgana Martin, the Magicvintagespy
Blog: Magicvintagespy.com
Google+, Facebook, Twitter & Pinterest
Book: How to Find the Best in Vintage Fashion available on Amazon.com